The objective of this study was to examine the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in a community-based sample (n = 228 patients) using a Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) as a measure. Associations to the variables age, age at onset, duration, clinical stage (Hoehn and Yahr), depression (Zung), and dementia (MMSE) were studied. Women scored significantly lower on five of the eight dimensions of SF-36. Depression, as measured in this study, was more common among parkinsonian women than men. Depression was the factor that was associated most significantly with the experienced quality of life, according to SF-36. With physical functioning, only the clinical stage had a more significant association than depression. To improve the quality of life in patients with PD, it is necessary to make every effort to recognize and relieve the depression of patients with PD.